Curtains
***
New Theatre, Cardiff, Mon 14 Oct
The opening night for this rambunctious comedy musical might not have been as wild as its creators had hoped. However, along with a stray microphone and odd outfit mishap, Curtains – A Comedy Music Whodunnit is a smorgasbord of light-hearted and comical characters sprinkled with a dash and slash of cold-blooded murder.
Robbed of a deservedly mighty applause for a stellar dance routine, a bullet tears its way through Bobby Pepper (Alan Burkitt)’s arm, leaving the cast in a state of shock and horror. At this point, we’ve only had our first taste of growing dread as we realise the bullet is not meant for Mr Pepper. It’s one of many of a series of heinous events that transpires over the course of the colourful show with no menacing favouritism held between lowly stage-hands and up-high businessmen. Character after character joins that big theatre in the sky as Lieutenant Frank Cioffi (Jason Manford) seeks to foil the murderer’s insidious plans as well as finally live out his deep passion for treading the boards.
The judicious casting of Jason Manford, who impresses spectators with his unexpected singing talents and ability to perpetually pull the audience’s attention back in with his excitable and loveable presence, appears to be a triumph. It’s exactly what the play needs in order to keep attentions resting on the amusing but somewhat lacking script that wends its way down the predictable path of murder mystery. Noticeable twists include striking stage sets and wonderful outfits, nestled in with interesting choreography provided by Alistair David with possible influence from Agness de Mille’s Oklahoma choreography.
The score is enjoyable and has an entertaining tone throughout but admittedly it does not carry many weighty numbers that are easy to whistle on your way out of the theatre. One exception is I Miss The Music, though its gravitas is slightly muffled under Ore Abuda’s sweet-yet-muted singing voice, which fails to offer any form of challenge to the accompanying orchestra.
The play overall has modest tones and a grounded quaintness to it that certainly makes you feel more a part of the cast and Investigation, with Emma Caffrey, Rebecca Lock and Samuel Holmes raking up the remaining praise for wonderful performances as Bambi Bernet, Carmen Bernstein and Christopher Belling respectively. It’s very apparent that Mr Manford will not be the only actor collecting admiration from onlookers and critics alike.
This is inevitably not Murder On The Orient Express but Curtains carries its own particular flair. Though you won’t be rushing back to see it seven or eight more times, it will certainly fuel or even re-ignite a spark concluding the delectably devious and secretively sinister concept of Whodunnit.
words Nathan Roach
Curtains plays at the New Theatre until Sat 19 Oct. More info here
